I'm an explorer, a deconstructor, a joker, a poker-and-a-prodder.

I live in the Northwoods at an ourdoor school where we gather a large portion of our food from the wild, and facilitate long-term wilderness immersions. I've spent around 10 years here and don't plan to leave anytime soon.

I love paradoxes and being contrarian (once I get comfortable in a situation). I'd like to help other people be able to do it too. When we let ourselves break the molds we ourselves create, that opens us up to the limitlessness of who we are.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I haven't couchsurfed for a few years, but I'm looking to spend more time in the local cities. I love where I live and what I do, but it's a teensy-tiny community I live in, which is itself located in a small town, and I still want to meet new people and keep having a variety of experiences.

Interests

Videography, rollerblading, running in the woods, unparenting/co-parenting/gentle parenting. How being present in relationships without lots of boundaries brings us into deeper relationships with ourselves. I've spent the last 8 years living in close circles of people with a focus and communication on how we affect one another, and how we can examine our unconscious habits and patterns to more fully engage in our relationships. And that has huge implications for parenting/co-parenting!

• animals
• books
• dining
• cooking
• running
• technology
• poker

Music, Movies, and Books

I really like David Foster Wallace. And I find myself really liking occasional articles in Utne. Otherwise scattered things.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Lived in the woods with 42 men, women, and children for a year, full-time.

Fell 100 feet out of a tree and walked away from it (before being med-evac'ed)

Teach, Learn, Share

For the past 8 years I've learned how to listen to my dreams. Without using intellectual symbolism, just pure deep listening to the voice within. I've written a chapter on it for my mentor's upcoming healing book.

Also, I can tan animal hides with egg yolks and make braintanned leather. That goes with a bunch of the other typical primitive-skills: making fire with sticks, carving bowls, wild edibles, how to trap and cook animals, etc.

Lately I've gotten into video production. I can help outfit a amateur-level camera unit. And video-editing. I'm pretty handy with computers and can usually figure it out when crap happens.

I've spent a number of years co-parenting children from a few months old to teenagers.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories. Rather than impressive ones of the scope of my experience, I'm better at the embarrassing ones with simple lessons we can all understand. But I can also fake the impressive ones pretty well.

I can also share some breadth of experience on different things, ranging from computer technology, videography, to primitive skills, especially natural hide-tanning. I could show you some of the videos I've made, and share about my current projects.

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Germany, Sweden